95383720_Ch01.indd 1 6/13/06 4:33:45 PM

Sam

ple

file

C R E D I T S

Visit our website at www.wizards.com/dnd

Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

game designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.

This product uses updated material from the v.3.5 revision.

This WIZARDS OF THE COAST® game product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any

form without written permission. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the d20 System License, please visit www.wizards.com/d20.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, DUNGEON MASTER, d20, d20 System, WIZARDS OF THE COAST, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, Monster Manual, Dragon Magic, all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., in the U.S.A. and other countries.This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc.This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely coincidental. Printed in the U.S.A. ©2006 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

U.S., CANADA, ASIA, PACIFIC, & LATIN AMERICAWizards of the Coast, Inc.P.O. Box 707Renton WA 98057-0707Questions? 1-800-324-6496

EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERSHasbro UK Ltd

Caswell WayNewport, Gwent NP9 0YH

GREAT BRITAINPlease keep this address for your records620–95383720–001–EN

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1ISBN-10: 0-7869-3936-2 First Printing: September 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0-7869-3936-7

D E S I G N

OWEN K.C. STEPHENS AND RODNEY THOMPSON

A D D I T I O N A L D E S I G N

RICHARD BAKER, CHRISTOPHER CAMPBELL, GREG MARKS, ARI MARMELL, DAVID NOONAN, MATTHEW SERNETT

D E V E L O P M E N T

ANDY COLLINS

E D I T O R

RAY VALLESE

E D I T I N G M A N A G E R

KIM MOHAN

D E S I G N M A N A G E R

CHRISTOPHER PERKINS

D E V E L O P M E N T M A N A G E R

JESSE DECKER

D I R E C T O R O F R P G R & D

BILL SLAVICSEK

P R O D U C T I O N M A N A G E R S

JOSH FISCHER, RANDALL CREWS

S E N I O R A R T D I R E C T O R D & D

STACY LONGSTREET

A R T D I R E C T O R

KARIN JAQUES

C O V E R A R T I S T

ERIC POLAK

I N T E R I O R A R T I S T S

DAVID BIRCHAM, JEFF CARLISLE, CARL CRITCHLOW, DAARKEN, ERIC DESCHAMPS, JEFF EASLEY, WAYNE ENGLAND, E.M. GIST, BRIAN HAGAN, RALPH HORSLEY, WARREN MAHY, LUCIO PARRILLO, MIKE SCHLEY, ARNIE SWEKEL, FRANCIS TSAI, FRANZ VOHWINKEL, DAVID WAHLSTROM, EVA WIDERMANN, JAMES ZHANG

C A R T O G R A P H E R

MIKE SCHLEY

G R A P H I C D E S I G N E R

KARIN JAQUES

G R A P H I C P RO D U C T I O N S P E C I A L I S T

ANGELIKA LOKOTZ

I M A G E T E C H N I C I A N

SVEN BOLEN

95383720_Ch01.indd 2 6/13/06 4:33:54 PM

Sam

ple

file

3

TAB

LE OF

CO

NTEN

TS

ContentsIntroduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Chapter 1: Dragonbound Heroes . . . . . . . . . . .5Races of the Draconic Realm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Draconic Class Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Feats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Feat Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Armor of Scales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Black Dragon Lineage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Blue Dragon Lineage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Brass Dragon Lineage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Bronze Dragon Lineage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Copper Dragon Lineage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Double Draconic Aura . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Draconic Armor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Draconic Aura . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Draconic Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Draconic Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Draconic Senses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Draconic Vigor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Dragonfi re Assault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Dragonfi re Channeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Dragonfi re Inspiration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Dragonfi re Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Dragontouched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Gold Dragon Lineage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Green Dragon Lineage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Heart of Dragons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Initiate of Aasterinian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Initiate of Astilabor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Initiate of Bahamut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Initiate of Falazure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Initiate of Garyx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Initiate of Hlal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Initiate of Io . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Initiate of Lendys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Initiate of Tamara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Initiate of Tiamat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Red Dragon Lineage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Silver Dragon Lineage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Slayer of Dragons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22White Dragon Lineage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Words of Draconic Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Chapter 2: Dragon Aspirants . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23Dragonfi re Adept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Diamond Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Dragon Descendant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Dragon Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38Hand of the Winged Masters . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43Pact-Bound Adept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Swift Wing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50Wyrm Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Chapter 3: Draconic Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59New Spells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Dual-School Spells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60The Polymorph Subschool . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Spell Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Adoration of the Frightful . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Arcane Spellsurge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Aspect of the Chromatic Dragon . . . . . . . .64Aspect of the Platinum Dragon . . . . . . . . .64Burst of Glacial Wrath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Call of the Twilight Defender . . . . . . . . . . .65Channel the Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Curse of the Elemental Lords . . . . . . . . . . .65Detect Dragonblood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65Dragoneye Rune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66Dragonshape, Lesser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66Dragonshape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66Eyes of the Oracle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67Ferocity of Sanguine Rage . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67Firestride Exhalation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67Form of the Desert Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Glorious Master of the Elements . . . . . . . .68Haze of Smoldering Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Hoard Gullet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Justice of the Wyrm King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69Kiss of Draconic Defi ance . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69Lord of the Sky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69Magic of the Dragonheart . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69Mark of the Enlightened Soul. . . . . . . . . . .70Mind of the Labyrinth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70Passage of the Shifting Sands . . . . . . . . . . .70Path of Frost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70Primal Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71Primal Instinct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71Primal Senses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72Primal Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72Rot of Ages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72Soul of Anarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72Soul of Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72Soul of Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73Soul of Shadow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73Touch of the Blackened Soul . . . . . . . . . . . .73Trance of the Verdant Domain . . . . . . . . . .73Undying Vigor of the Dragonlords . . . . . .74Vision of the Omniscient Eye . . . . . . . . . . .74Wingblast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74Wreath of Flames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

New Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75Power Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Amethyst Burst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75Channel the Psychic Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . .75Crystal Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75Gemstone Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Dragonfi re Adept Breath Effects . . . . . . . . . . .77Acid Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77Cloud Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77Discorporating Breath of Bahamut . . . . . .77Enduring Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77Fivefold Breath of Tiamat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77Force Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77Frost Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77Lightning Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77Paralyzing Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77Shaped Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77Sickening Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78Sleep Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78Slow Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78Thunder Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78Weakening Breath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Draconic Invocations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78Invocation Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Aquatic Adaptation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Aura of Flame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Baleful Geas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Beguiling Infl uence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Breath of the Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Charm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Chilling Fog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Darkness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Deafening Roar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Devour Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Draconic Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Draconic Flight, Greater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Draconic Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Draconic Toughness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Endure Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Energy Immunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Energy Resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Enthralling Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Frightful Presence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Humanoid Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Instill Vulnerability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81Magic Insight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81Perilous Veil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81Scalding Gust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81See the Unseen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81Terrifying Roar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81Voidsense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81Voracious Dispelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81Walk Unseen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81Wingstorm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Warlock Invocations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81Draconic Soulmelds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82New Vestige . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Ashardalon, Pyre of the Unborn . . . . . . . .85Draconic Auras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86Dragonpacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87Draconic Companion Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92Magic Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Amulet of Fearsome Might . . . . . . . . . . . . .93Cloak of Mysterious Emergence . . . . . . . .93Dragonslayer Claws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93Elixir of Blindsight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94Ring of Draconic Zeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94Rod of Dragon’s Blood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94Rod of the Dragon Heart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95Shield of the Winged Crusade . . . . . . . . . .95Sword of the Great Harrowing . . . . . . . . . .95Tailbands of Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96Tome of the Wyrm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97Vial of Explosive Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97

Dweomered Dragon Scales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97Legacy Item: Wyrmbane Helm . . . . . . . . . . 104

Chapter 4: Dragons and Draconic Beasts 107Aspect of Bahamut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108Aspect of Tiamat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110Blazewyrm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111Drakkensteed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113Huitzil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114Phynxkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116Redspawn Berserker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118Spelleater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119Twilight Guardian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121Velroc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123Variant Dragon Abilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Chapter 5: Draconic Campaigns . . . . . . . . . 131Introducing Draconic Elements . . . . . . . . . .132Draconic Campaign Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133Dragon Overlords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136Minions and Adversaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140Draconic Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146The Battle of Dragon Fall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151

95383720_Ch01.indd 3 6/13/06 4:34:02 PM

Sam

ple

file

IntroductionEmber moved quietly from behind the rocks blocking the path down into the valley. Her comrades watched her with eager eyes, waiting to hear about what she had seen on her scouting mission. “It is as Soveliss feared. The tracks belong to a dragon, a fair-sized red. It sits at the foot of the mountain, at the entrance to the valley. It seems to be protecting the valley, as if it had some reason to watch over the towns below. I even saw a caravan pass by it, and the red made no effort to demand tribute or consume their horses.” ”It’s not the only dragon in these mountains,” Soveliss whispered with sudden urgency. “Look!” The other adventurers followed the line of his pointing fi nger. A large lizard, wingless but clearly dragonlike in nature, had crept into view among the rocks above their camp. No larger than a horse, the wingless dragon reacted to their sudden recognition of its presence by starting to crawl down the mountainside toward them. “If it’s a fi ght the monster wants . . .” Krusk growled, drawing his axe with one easy motion. “You have no need of your weapons,” rang out a voice from behind the wingless dragon. A woman in scale armor stepped out from behind the creature, placing a hand gently on its shoulder. “Fersyl is my friend and companion. He attacks only my foes, and I hope you shall not be among them.” Hennet moved up and spoke to the visitor in Draconic. “Are you a sorcerer, perhaps, or a dragon in human form?” The woman replied in the same tongue. “I am no spellcaster, and my true form is as you see it. My name is Tatiana, and I am dragontouched.” Hennet switched back to the common language. “What is a dragontouched, and why do you spy on our camp?” Tatiana smiled grimly. “Time enough to learn what I can do later, spellslinger. I am here for the sake of the same cause that has drawn you, though I see you do not yet understand what has happened. The red dragon in the valley is but a knight in the service of the new king of these lands. The red is a powerful foe to be sure, but one just learning the dragon magic known by the Scaled King.” “Dragon magic?” asked Hennet, his voice revealing his interest. Tatiana smiled again.

“Oh, yes, sorcerer. Many creatures that have come to this realm with the new king know the magic of dragons. And you are going to need my help to deal with them.”

WHAT IS DRAGON MAGIC?In most D&D campaigns, dragons are detached from the rest of civilization. They live in distant places and show little regard or interest for the communities of humans and other tiny creatures that inhabit “their” world. Notable excep-tions exist—the polymorphed silver dragon that befriends humans, the rampaging red dragon that preys on remote settlements. However, by and large, dragons in the D&D game keep mostly to themselves. Dragon Magic changes the way dragons are used in a D&D campaign by suggesting a stronger connection between them and the various humanoid races (humans, dwarves, elves, and such). This book presupposes a world in which the dragons are actively invested, one in which dragons openly share their magical secrets with humans and the other core races. Using the details in this book, you can:

• Play a gnome sorcerer who has learned ceremonial rituals from a brass dragon, enabling him to adopt dragonlike characteristics.

• Adventure in a kingdom ruled (or tyrannized) by dragons.

• Play a half-elf dragonmaster who has learned secret magic auras from a silver dragon covenant and won the trust of a trusty drake companion.

• Play a half-orc fi ghter who has weathered the tyranny of a red dragon long enough to master some new dragon-related feats.

At its core, Dragon Magic is all about what happens when “lesser” races form loose pacts or associations with dragons and learn the creatures’ ancient secrets. Dragon Magic includes new options for characters who wish to be more dragonlike, including a new standard character class, level substitutions, rituals, auras, organizations, feats, and prestige classes. It also has advice for running more dragon-based campaigns, draconic locations, dragonblood monsters, as well as a selection of new dragon-themed powers: spells for arcane and divine casters, invocations for warlocks, soulmelds for meldshapers, and psionic powers for psions.

WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAYDragon Magic makes use of the information in the three D&D core rulebooks—Player’s Handbook (PH), Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG), and Monster Manual (MM). In addition, it refers to or draws upon material presented in several D&D supple-ments, especially Draconomicon and Races of the Dragon. Although having of any or all of the supplements refer-enced herein will enhance your enjoyment of Dragon Magic, they are not strictly necessary. In many cases, the details you need to make use of a particular creature or rule from another source are provided in this book.

INTR

OD

UC

TIO

N

4

pqqqqqqqqqrs

THE DRAGONBLOOD SUBTYPERaces that have a strong affinity to dragons are of the dragon-blood subtype. (This method of classification, introduced in Races of the Dragon, is referred to frequently in this book.) Spells, effects, powers, and abilities that affect or target dragons also affect dragonblood creatures. The subtype qualifies a creature to use magic items normally only usable by dragons, and it qualifies the creature to take feats that have the subtype as a prerequisite. The dragonblood subtype does not confer the dragon type or any traits associated with that type. For instance, it does not give a creature frightful presence. Dragons automatically qualify for any classes, prestige classes, racial substitution levels, feats, powers, or spells that require the dragonblood subtype. If a creature acquires the dragon type, it loses the dragonblood subtype.pqqqqqqqqqrs

95383720_Ch01.indd 4 6/13/06 4:34:09 PM

Sam

ple

file

xcept in a few rare situations, dragons are not heroes. That job is left to the mortal races—the adventurers, soldiers, and champions who involve themselves in world-shaking events on a daily basis. In truth,

even the least powerful dragons have greater concerns than the petty squabbles and so-called quests of lesser races. And yet, many characters show signs of draconic infl uence, par-ticularly in campaigns where dragons are prevalent. These characters either have draconic ancestry or simply feel the social and cultural infl uence of dragons in their lives. Powerful creatures imbued with the magical energies that fl ow through the world, dragons can warp the fabric of real-ity simply through their existence. Their innate magic can twist and alter the way nature takes its course, and the mere presence of a dragon nearby can grant ordinary humanoid children strange powers. Moreover, when dragons take an active hand in the lives of mortals, they can actually shape these changes, carefully altering the destinies of lesser crea-tures in ways even the most powerful wizards cannot. Communities that have dragon overseers (or overlords) who meddle in the lives of their citizens produce heroes rich in draconic legacy. Other champions trace their ori-gins to eons past when their ancestors crossed paths with mighty drakes, irrevocably changing their lives and those of their descendants. This infl uence is not always proof of breeding between the races; dragons can simply shape the

culture and beliefs of a community through regular con-tact. Regardless of the seeds of draconic infl uence, many characters owe their unique abilities and knowledge to the great creatures. These mortals are far more than typical adventurers; they carry the regal power of dragons with them wherever they roam. Dragonbound heroes might relish or resent their heri-tage. Some defy dragons that involve themselves in the lives of mortals, while others seek them out for wisdom or arcane lore. Still others feel the residual effects of this legacy without knowing it exists, believing their odd powers or characteristics to be “just the way things are.” Of course, characters whose physical appearance distinguishes them from others of their race have a more diffi cult time ignoring their special status, and might face prejudice and scorn.

RACES OF THE DRACONIC REALM

With the infl uence of dragons felt in nearly every aspect of adventurers’ lives, it comes as no surprise that dragons have altered the mortal races themselves. Through cultural, magical, and biological means, dragons have created entirely new subraces and societies that are unique and distinct from the 5

Illus. by R

. Horsley

Illus. by R

. Horsley

95383720_Ch01.indd 5 6/13/06 4:34:15 PM

Sam

ple

file

6

CH

APT

ER 1

DR

AG

ON

BO

UN

D

HER

OES

standard races. The following new subraces are suitable for any campaign in which dragons have fundamentally affected the mortals of the world.

SILVERBROW HUMANSSilver dragons relish humanoid form and enjoy many of the same daily pleasures as humans. Long ago, communities of humans welcomed disguised silver dragons into their vil-lages, not knowing the truth about their new neighbors. In these communities, which were often secluded and small, half-dragon children became common as the dragon visitors married their human friends. The silver progenitors went to great lengths to hide their children from the rest of the world, citing “curses” or “deformities” as an excuse for their physical differences. Despite the occasional discovery, they managed to hide their half-breed offspring long enough to teach them to take humanoid form magically. These children in turn became members of the community, and thus fol-lowed generation after generation with the mixed blood of humans and silver dragons. Over time, the overt draconic physical characteristics faded, leaving human-looking children with silver dragon bloodlines. Eventually, the dragons themselves departed these communities, leaving behind a strong draconic heritage in mostly human descendants. Because they exhibit one of the more common physical signs of draconic heritage—a silver streak or highlights in the hair—they came to be known as silverbrow humans. Otherwise, silverbrow humans are identical to the humans described in the Player’s Handbook, except as noted below. —Dragonblood Subtype: Silverbrow humans are of the dragonblood subtype (see page 4). —Feather Fall (Sp): A silverbrow human can use feather fall once per day, plus one additional time per day for every 5 Hit Dice he has.

—No Bonus Skill Points: Silverbrow humans don’t have the aptitude for learning that standard humans have. —Disguise Aptitude: Silverbrow humans have a +2 racial bonus on Disguise checks, and Disguise is always considered a class skill. Their ancestors’ need to guard their identities against those who feared or hated them has become second nature to silverbrow humans.

DEEPWYRM DROW AND HALF-DROW OF FAERÛN

Deep dragons (described in Monsters of Faerûn) are among the most dangerous hunters in the Underdark. Thanks to their ability to assume humanoid form, they frequently interact with other denizens of these shadowy tunnels while posing as drow. In this guise, deep dragons explore dark elf commu-nities and forge powerful alliances, often without the drow realizing the truth about their new partners. In some cases, these relationships produce half-dragon offspring, and these bloodlines have a way of manifesting themselves in later generations as deepwyrm drow. Such drow are typically sinuous in build, with skin that has maroon or purple highlights. Otherwise, except as noted below, deepwyrm drow are identical to the drow described in the Monster Manual, and deepwyrm half-drow are identical to the half-drow described in Races of Faerûn. —Dragonblood Subtype: Deepwyrm drow and half-drow are of the dragonblood subtype (see page 4). —Spell-Like Abilities : 3/day—detect magic; 1/day—disguise self. The caster level for these effects is equal to the character level of the deepwyrm drow or half-drow. —Deepwyrm drow lose the power to use faerie fi re as a spell-like ability.

—Deepwyrm drow and half-drow gain a +2 racial bonus on Bluff checks. —Deepwyrm half-drow lose the standard +2 racial

bonus on Diplomacy checks.

Illu

s. b

y E

. Wid

erm

ann

Fireblood dwarf

and red dragon Silverbrow human

and silver dragonForestlord elf

and green dragon

95383720_Ch01.indd 6 6/13/06 4:34:21 PM

Sam

ple

file